The Hocking sentinel. [volume] (Logan, Ohio) 1871-1906, 1887-01-13
Tho Statue cfLnirE-lkson.

The conception of the sculptor pre-
sents to us a full-grown giant, with
strong but intellectual and beardless
face, rsther Roman than Greek, and dis
tinctly not OF recognized barbaric type.
he has just set foot, in advance Of his
companions, upon IN unknown shore,
where he stands, sailor-fashion. with his
legs somewhat apart, but firmly poised
upon his left, in the attitude of one ea-
gerly scanning the distance. The left
hand shades the eyes; The right. resting
upon his hip, holds signal horn,
bravely bedeckod with Runic device
like 4 drinking-cup of the Skalds. He
Is clad in 4 short, sleeveless jerkin. or
coat of scale armor, closely fitting
around thu hips, and adorned with two
FOUND bossed plates upon the breasts.
Beneath it linen tunic desccnds half
way down the thighs. He wears dec
GRATED belt and 4 sheathed dagger at
his waist. Upon his long, shaggy locks
is set small, round cap of steel. The
powerful arms are bare, and the skim
tight leggings reveal the strong anatc-
my OF the lower limbs. Upon the feet
are shoes, apparently of slashcd leather.
and the legs are not cross-gartercd.
The general expression Of the figure is
one of alert and vigorous manhood;
it is modelled on 4 heroic scale, and
posed like one who pauses for moment
and for definite purpose in the midst
OF IN active career. Left, however, is
portrayed rs n man of thought as we'll
rs of action; in the whole conception of
him there is not only more of civiliza-
tinr1 finn, ha,.i,o 1,-., of n,
than romantic sentiment.
1t Is evident that upon this fundamen-
tai point the sculptor is ready to take
issue with those who conceive that on.
of Scandinavia, in the tenth century,
nothing better could issue than manly
virtue of :. brutal sort, and 2 very saw
age and coarsc-Ebred energy.
According to the Sagas. Left Erikson
was a prince, son of Erik the Red, Jari
OF Norway. 1t may be fairly assumed
that this crude court had received some
reflection, however faint, from the civil
ization of the south. It was four or
five centuries before the era OF Left |
when the hordes from this northern |
hive" overran the Roman Empire, and |
his own ancestors may have occupied |
The Palatine among The conquerors.
Fired by the narrative of Bjarne, who
in $50 first visited The coast OF North |
America, he set out with thir;y-five men
il the year 1000, and discovered Labra-
dor and Vinland. A few years later he |
was sent 10 Greenland to spread Chris
tianity among the Morse settlements.
He is described by the Sagas rs "a
great and strong man, grave and well
favored, Herewith sensible and moder- |
ate in all things" No act Of piracy or
rapine is recorded of him.
Upon the basis OF these records, it
would seem that the artist is historical |
ly justified in associating 4 Certain de-
gree of intellectual and moral force, if |
not of actual refinement, with the pro-
par physical characteristics of her semi
barbaric hero The burden of proof |
lies with those who are disposed to typi-
fy the reputed discoyercr of Massachu-
sets Bay and the island of Nantucket
and Martha's Vineyard rs Il Hun Or
Goth of the third century.-Hcayy Faa
Bruilt ia Juue Atlantic.